3

takai keitai expensive cellphone

takaku nai keitai cellphone that is not expensive

It’s possible to combine more than one adjective or other modifying elements to extend a noun
phrase.

chiisai takai keitai small, expensive cellphone

kono Amerika no chiisai takai keitai this small, expensive American cellphone

Note that all the modifying elements occur before the main noun, and that the particle no must be
attached to a noun modifier wherever it occurs. The order of modifying elements is rather free,
unlike in English, where there are certain restrictions.

chiisai takai kono Amerika no keitai this small, expensive American cellphone
kono watashi no keitai this cellphone of mine
watashi no kono keitai this cellphone of mine

3-1-3 arimasu ‘there is X’

The verb arimasu means ‘there is’ or ‘I have’. It indicates inanimate existence such as
objects, plants, ideas, events, etc. A different verb is used for people and animals and will be
introduced later. There are two negative forms for arimasu: arimasen and nai desu. The latter is
less formal.

As we have seen so far, nai desu is part of the negative forms for noun and adjective
sentences. Arimasen can substitute for nai desu in these forms and sounds a little more elegant.

Sumaho ja nai desu.  Sumaho ja arimasen. It’s not a smartphone.

Takaku nai desu.  Takaku arimasen. It’s not expensive.

Similarly, the Past form arimasen deshita can substitute for nakatta desu.

Sumaho ja nakatta desu.  Sumaho ja arimasen deshita. It wasn’t a smartphone.

Takaku nakatta desu.  Takaku arimasen deshita. It wasn’t expensive.

The chart below shows all the forms including these alternatives.

Non-Past Past
Affirmative Negative Affirmative Negative
Verb Arimasu. Nai desu. Arimashita. Nakatta desu.
Sentence Arimasen. Arimasen deshita.
Noun Nihon desu. Nihon ja nai desu. Nihon deshita. Nihon ja nakatta desu.
Sentence Nihon ja arimasen Nihon ja arimasen deshita.
Adjective Takai desu. Takaku nai desu. Takakatta desu. Takaku nakatta desu.
Sentence Takaku arimasen. Takaku arimasen deshita.